Radiator cabinet



March 30, 1937. c. M. WOOLLEY RADIATOR CABINET Filed Oct. 30, 1935 E PM INVENTOR C rence M. WQQUQH Patented Mar. 30, 1937 ATENT OFFICE RADIATOR CABINET Clarence M. Woolley, New York, N. Y., assignor to American. Radiator Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application October 30, 1935, Serial No. 47,364

4 Claims.

My invention relates to heating cabinets, and more particularly to heating cabinets in which provision is made for forced circulation of air over a thermal radiator.

Embodiments of my invention include a casing adapted to substantially enclose an ordinary thermal radiator, suitable air ingress and egress openings in the casing, and air-circulating means positioned in the upper part of the casing above the thermal radiator.

A preferred form of the present invention comprises a casing supporting in its upper part one or more motor-fan assemblies, an adjustable septum provided with an openirg or openings cor- 5 related respectively with the fan or fans of the motor-fan assemblies, air ingress, or egress openings communicating with the interior of the easing above the septum, and air egress or ingress openings communicating with the interior of the casing at a point below the septum and lowerly of a thermal radiator over which the casing as a whole is adapted to fit and to substantially enclose.

During the operation of the motor-fans in this preferred construction, the septum being adjusted to a closed position in substantial alignment with the mean path of rotation of the fans proper, air is projected downwardly over the heat transferring surfaces of the radiator and is discharged at a predetermined point near the floor of the room or other space served by the radiator over which the heating cabinet is placed, thereby positively heating a maximum volume of the room air, and also most effectively distributing heat uniformly throughout the room.

When the fans are not in operation, assuming steam or like heating medium to be supplied to the radiator, by setting the septum at an angle inclined upwardly toward the openings in the upper portion of the casing, an air channel is formed which directs gravity or convection currents flowing upwardly through the heating cabinet toward and through said openings.

Further features of the invention will be more fully understood from the following detail description and accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a front elevation of a preferred embodiment of my invention, a portion of the front panel being broken away to reveal a partial vertical section taken on line |l of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Fig. 1, portions of the side panel being broken away to reveal a partial section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral ID indicates a casing formed preferably of a single sheet of metal shaped to provide, integrally related, the front panel H, the end panels l2 and i3, and the partial rear' panel l4, and adapted to fit over and substantially enclose a heating radiator I5 which may be a part of an ordinary type of heating system, supplied with a suitable heating medium such as steam. Inwardly angled, integral extensions Illa at the bases of the aforesaid panels may serve as feet for the support of casing Ill on the floor I6 of a room or other space served by my heating cabinet. Preferably, both the thermal radiator and the casing are supported on the floor independently of each other.

A cover I1 is provided to tightly close the top of the casing while in use, and desirably its construction permits convenient access to mechanism enclosed within the casing. As illustrated, it may be of a removable slide-fit type locking frictionally with the side panels of the casing by means of peripheral channeled drop-flanges Ila, and adapted to bear tightly against angled supporting members lflb formed as extensions of the upper part of the casing.

In the upper portion of the casing and above the thermal radiator I provide air circulating means. As such, one or more motor-fan assemblies may be utilized. The illustrated embodiment shows three such assemblies, each motor being indicated 18 and its associated fan l9. Each motor-fan assembly is suitably supported by the casing, as by means of the suspension cross bar 20, which is cushioningly supported in channel depressions Zia and 22a respectively of the brackets 2i and 22, said brackets being firmly secured to the interior face of the front and rear panels of the casing by welding, riveting, or the like, and being suitably spaced apart from each other as required by the length of the suspension cross-bar 26.

Cushioning means, in the form of rubber sleeve 23 or the like, fitted over each end of the suspension cross-bar 20 serve to absorb operating vibrations from the motors IS; the motors are suspended, as by means of the suspension clamps 24, from advantageous points along the suspension cross-bar.

The suspension clamps 24 as shown are preferably formed from resilient strap metal. They comprise inverted U suspension members 24a, rigidly fastened as by riveting, to the cross-bar 20; and annular clamping members 24b, of the common bolt-nut adjustable type, rigidly .at-

Each of the fan openings 25a has a diameter slightly larger than the eifective diameter of the therewith coordinatedfan.

Ingress, or egress as the case may be, openings 15 for air are shown in the illustrated preferred embodiment at 26, in this instance being, disposed.

wholly in the front panel ll of the casing I and located above the septum 25. .Theopenings are here shown in the form of an ornamental grill ex,-

20 tending across the upper part of the front. Howj ever, the openings are not restricted in location to the front panel. If desired they may be suitably positioned in other panels of the casing,

provided they are above the septum 25. Air 25 egress or ingress Openinga'indicated 21, are

supplied atjthe bottom ofthe casing, communieating with the interior ofsame at a point below the septum 25, and below the effective heating surface of the radiator l5.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated, upon actuation of the one or more motors I8, which motors are desirably of the electric type controlled by a snap switch 28, and therewith actuation of the one or more fans [9, air isdrawn in to the cabinet through the openings 26, serving at this stage as air ingress openings, and is thereupon projected downwardly within the cabinet, through the respective fan openings 25a of the septum 25 in heatexchange relation with the heating surfaces of the radiator l5, and is finally forced outwardly of the cabinet "through the opening or openings 21, serving at this stage as air egress openings, at or in immediate proximity to the floor'l6. In this manner my, heating cabinet is operative to positively circulate and recirculate heated air withinthe room or other space in which it is placed with attendant enhanced comfort to the occupants of the said room or other space, by reason of such positive circulation and the resulting uniform distribution of heat supplied by the radiator.

When forced air circulation through the cabinet is not desired, the motors II! are discontinued in operation, at which stage it is desirable to raise the septum 25 about its hinges 25b from its horizontal position shown in Fig.1 to an angular position indicated in. dotted outline at 25 in Fig. 2. Such adjustment is accomplished by any suitable means, such as the angular sup- .60 porting piece 29 which may be slidably mounted V in the slot 30, which slot may be suitably formed in the end panel l2. The supporting piece 29 may I be'adjusted to a, desired elevated position, thereby elfecting a corresponding adjustment of the septum 25, by manually sliding it upwardly in the slot 30, and then may be frictionally lockedin the set position by the screw-clamp handle member 3|; The septum 25 may be lowered and/or returned to its horizontal position by corresponding setting and locking of the member 29.

' When the septum is elevated it serves to form .a channel with the side panels of the cabinet to direct gravity i. e., convection air currents flowing upwardly through'the heating cabinet, and '75 such channel cooperates with the openings 26 which now serve as air egress openings. Volumetric delivery of heated air through the openings 26 is thus controlled by variable adjustment of the supporting piece 29, and consequent adjusted setting of the septum 25.

At opposite lateral ends of the front panel H as illustrated, or at any other convenient location.

in'th e casing I0, may be provided utility doors 30, preferably of an ornamental design and so:

positioned as to afford access to supplied fittings such as the conventional shut-off valve l5a and- I the steam trap l5b, indicated in dotted lines in may bethermostatically responsive, most advan- V tageously responsive thermostatically to difieren tial temperature setting, as for example, providing for full speed of each motor-fangassembly fora set minimum temperature, half or other partial speed for a set intermediate temperature,

and off" for aset maximumtemperature, I l

I claim:

1. A heating cabinet including'in combination a casing adapted to substantially enclose a heating element, one or more motor-fan assemblies housed in the casing above said heating element, means supporting said one or more motorand fan assemblies and wholly supported by said casing, a displaceable septum provided with an opening or' openings correlated with the fan or fans of such motor and fan assembly, said casing being pro vided with openings communicating with the interior of the casing above said septum, said casing being further provided with an opening or openings communicating with the interior of the casing below said heating element.

2. A heating cabinet including. in combination a casing adapted to substantially enclose aheating element, one 'or more motor-fan assemblies housed in the casing above said heating element,

means supporting said one or'more motor and fan assemblies and wholly supported by said casing, arr upwardly tiltable septum provided with an opening or openings correlated with the fan'or fans of such motor and fan assembly, said casing being provided with openings communicating with the interior of the casing above said septum,

said casing being further provided with an open-fing or openings communicating withthe interior of the casing below said heating element.

3. A heating cabinet including in combination a casing adapted to substantially enclose a heat ing element, one or more motor-fan assemblies housed in the casing above said heating element, means supporting said one or more motor and fan assemblies andwholly supported by said casing an adjustably displaceable septum provided with an opening or openings correlated with the fan or fans of such motor and fan assembly, and means for retaining said displaceable septum in adjusted status said casing being provided with an opening or openings communicating with the interior of the casing above said septum, said casing being further provided with an opening or openings communicating with the interior of the r f casing below said heating element, said dispflaceable septum being mounted for displacemenhcorrelated with the first mentioned opening or open lugs, for directing air currents through said opening or openings.

4. A heating cabinet including in combination a casing adapted to substantially enclose a heating element, one or more motor-fan assemblies housed in the casing above said heating element, means supporting said one or more motor and fan assemblies and wholly supported by said casing an adjustably upwardly tiltable septum provided 0 with an opening or openings correlated with the fan or fans of such motor and fan assembly, and

means for retaining said displaceable septum in adjusted status, said casing being provided with an opening or openings communicating with the interior of the casing above said septum, said casing being further provided with an opening or openings communicating with the interior of the casing below said heating element, said upwardly tiltable septum being pivoted to swing in an arc transverse of the area of the first mentioned opening or openings.

CLARENCE M. WOOLLEY. 

